Feeding mechanisms for sewing machines



July 28, 1959 HACKLANDER a 2,896,560

FEEDING MECHANISMS F OR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 19, 1955 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 3585 L J 1 ,INVENTOR O 69 Hansl-bck/ander 35;, l a t a as ATT RNE Y H. HACKLANDER v FEEDING MECHANIS Original Filed Dec. 19. 1955 July 28, 1959 MS FOR SEWING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. HACKLANDER FEEDING MECHANISMS FOR SEWING MACHINES Original Filed Dec. 19, 1955 July 2 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.7.

IN VE N TOR Hans Hack/under 2,896,560 Patented July 28, 1959 FEEDING MECHANISMS FOR SEWING MACHINES Hans Hacklander, Warren Township, N.J., assignor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey Original application December 19, 1955, Serial No. 553,806. Divided and this application March 26, 1957, Serial No. 648,529

2 Claims. (Cl. 112-18) The present invention relates to sewing machines and particularly to a feeding mechanism for sewing machines.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved biasing means for the feed cup of a sewing machine of the hosiery seamer type in which there is a manual means for moving the one feed cup out of operative relation relatively to the other feed cup in order to introduce work, and in which a biasing means is used to urge the movable feed cup into its operation position. More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved feed cup biasing means adapted for use with an automatically lubricated machine, which means is conveniently adjustable, does not require structure depending from the base of the machine that would prevent the machine from being placed on a planar support, is economical as well as easy to assemble, and is efiicient, dependable and durable.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved belt tightening means particularly for a drive belt for the feed cup of hosiery seamer type sewing machine that is simple and economical, easy to adjust, and dependable and durable.

Having in mind the above and other objects that will be evident from an understanding of this disclosure, the invention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of parts as illustrated in the presently preferred embodiment of the invention which is hereinafter set forth in such detail as to enable those skilled in the art readily to understand the function, operation, construction and advantages of it when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view longitudinally of a sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the sewing machine illustrated in Fig. l with the top cover plate and the hand wheel removed.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of the inside of the side wall of the bracket arm of the machine illustrated in Fig. l and showing the belt tightener.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially on the line 6-3 of Fig. 2.

The present invcntion is herein disclosed as embodied in the sewing machine forming the subject matter of my prior application Serial No. 553,806, of which the present application is a division.

As illustrated in the drawings, the sewing machine comprises a frame 1 having a vertically disposed hollow standard 2 carrying a laterally extending bracket arm 3. The hollow interior of the standard 2 comprises an oiltight splash-lubricated compartment 4 which .is closed at the top by a horizontal partition 5 and closed at the bottom by a base plate 6. The partition 5 separates the compartment 4 from a compartment 7 which comprises the hollow interior of the bracket arm 3. A top cover plate 8 closes the upper portion of the bracket arm compartment 7 and is secured by a resilient connection comprising a spring 9 acting between the bottom of a recess 10 in the top cover plate 8 and the head of a screw 11 threaded into a hollow stud 12. The stud 12 extends loosely through an aperture in the bottom of the recess 10 and is threaded through a tapped opening in the partition 5 with a lock nut 13 securing the stud 12 to the partition 5.

A vertical axis main shaft 14 is journaled for rotation in the splash-lubricated compartment 4 of the standard 2 in an upper bushing 15 in the partition 5 and a lower bushing 16 in a lug 17 extending into the compartment 4 from a wall of the standard 2. At its upper end, the shaft 14 extends through the upper bushing 15 to the exterior of the frame where it receives a hand wheel 13.

The main shaft 14 is held against vertical movement by a collar 19 and the hub of a gear 2b which are mounted on the shaft 14 on the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the lower bushing 16. The gear 29 meshes with a gear 21 on a horizontal axis drive shaft 22 journaled for rotation in the splash-lubricated compartment 4 in a bushing 23, in a lug 24 and a bushing 25 mounted in a partition 26, which comprises one wall of a belt pulley compartment 2'7 that is separated from the splash-lubricated compartment 4. The drive shaft 22 extends through the partition 26 into the compartment 27 where it receives a belt pulley 28 having a driving belt 29 entrained about it.

The stitching mechanism of the machine includes a horizontal. needle bar 39 mounted for endwise sliding movement in a bushing 31 in a flat front wall 32 of the standard 2. The needle bar 3i) carries a needle 33 at the outer end thereof. At its inner end within the splashlubricated compartment 4. the needle bar Ed is connected by a pitman 34 to a crank 35 on the main shaft 14. A thread-carrying looper 36 is mounted upon the outer end of a horizontal looper bar 37 journaled for oscillation in a bushing 33 extending through a lug 39 in the front Wall 32 of the standard 2. On the inner end of the looper bar 37 within the splash-lubricated compartment 4 there is mounted a crank arm it? connected by a pitman 41 to an eccentric 42 on the main shaft 14. A second threadcarrying looper 43 is mounted upon the outer end of a horizontal looper bar 4-4 journaled for oscillation in a bushing 45 extending through a lug 46 in the front wall 32 of the standard 2. On the inner end of the looper bar 44 within the splash-lubricated compartment 4 there is mounted a crank arm 47 connected by a pitman 4% to an eccentric '49 on the main shaft 14-.

The feeding mechanism of the machine comprises a pair of opposed feed cups including an outer feed cup 50 and an inner feed cup Sll. The inner feed cup 51 is mounted upon the upper end of a vertical axis feed shaft 52 journaled in bushings in the standard 2 and the lower end thereof, on which is mounted a gear 53, extends into the compartment 4. The gear 53 meshes with a gear 54 on the lower end of a vertical axis feed-actuating shaft 55 journaled at its lower end in a bushing 56 mounted in a bearing lug 57 extending inwardly from the wall of the standard 2 and at its upper end in a bushing 58 in the partition 5. Intermittent one-way rotation is imparted to the feed-actuating shaft 55 by a conventional one way clutch 59having an arm 60 connected by a pitman 61 to an adjustable eccentric 62 onthe drive shaft 22. The upper end of the feed-actuating shaft 55 projects through the bushing 58 'into the bracket arm compartment 7 where .it has. mounted thereon a pulley 63. The pulley 63 is connected by a belt 64 to a pulley 65 on the upper end of a feed shaft 66. On the lower end of the feed shaft 66 there is mounted the outer feed cup 50.

To maintain the proper tension in the belt 64- there is provided a belt tightener, Figs. 2 and 7, comprising a bracket 67 adjustably secured to the. side wall of the bracket arm 3 by a bolt 68 and a nut 69. The bolt 68 extends through an aperture in the side wall of the bracket arm 3 and through an elongated slot 70 in the bracket 67. The bracket 67 includes a pair of laterally extending ears 71 between which is journaled a belt-engaging roller 72. To avoid distortion and side thrust of the belt 64, the axis of the roller 72 is arranged at a right angle to the centerline of the engaged run of the belt, or as in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, is arranged parallel to the axes of the pulleys 63 and 65. The shafts 55 and 66 are arranged so that the engaged run of the belt 64 between the pulleys. 63 and 65 extends at an acute angle to the side wall of the bracket arm on which the bracket 67 is mounted. The roller 72 engages and deflects the adjacent run of the belt 64, thereby increasing the length easier to assemble.

of that run and effecting a belt-tightening action. As the v bracket 67 is adjusted toward the pulley 63, the roller 72 will increasingly deflect and lengthen the engaged run of the belt, conversely, as the roller 72 is moved toward the pulley 65, the deflection of the belt will be decreased and the tension of the belt will accordingly be decreased.

To provide for introducing work between the feed cups and 51, the outer feed cupv 50 is mounted for movement away from operative relation relatively to the inner feed cup 51. Toward this end, the feed shaft 66 is journaled for rotation in bearings in a sleeve 73 that at its upper end extends into the split depending portion 74 of a feed cup supporting gate 75 and is clamped therein .by a screw 76. The gate 75 is pivotally mounted in the bracket arm 3 by a pair of laterally extending trunnions 77 (Fig. 8) secured in the gate 75 by set screws 78. The gate 75 includes an integral lever arm 79 (Fig. 6) arranged longitudinally of the bracket arm 3. The free end of the lever arm 79 is biased upwardly, which is that direction in which the outer feed cup 50 is moved toward operative engagement with the inner feed cup 51, by a spring 80 disposed in a bore 81 in a boss 82 depending from the partition 5 into the splash-lubricated compartment 4, the axis of the bore 82 being normal to the lower arm 79 and the extension of the axis intersecting an intermediate point on the lever arm 79. The spring 80 is compressed between a contact piece 83 that engages the under side of the lever arm 79 and an adjustable disc 84 threaded into the bore 81. Vertical adjustment of the disc 84 in the bore 81 will be elfected when the disc 84 is rotated. To rotate the disc 84 there is provided an adjusting rod 85 that is non-circular or out-of-round in cross section, preferably square, and extends through an aperture of similar configuration in the disc 84. The rod 85 extends upwardly through the spring 80 and loosely through an aperture 86 in the lever arm 79. At its upper end the rod 85 is provided with a screw driver slot 87 by means of which it can be rotated.

At its free end, the lever arm 79 is connected to a pull rod 88 arranged parallel to the adjusting rod 85 which pull rod 85' provides for pivoting the lever arm 79 against the action of the spring 80 and thus separating the feed cups 50 and 51. The connection between the lever arm 79 and pull rod 88 comprises a head 89 upon the end of the pull rod 88 that operatively engages the lever arm 79. as the pull rod 88 is tensioned, the pull rod 88 extending downwardly through an aperture in the lever arm 79. To prevent rattling between the pull rod and lever, a spring 98 is disposed between the head 89 and the top of the lever arm 79, and a spacer 91 is provided to minimize the lost motion. The pull rod extends downwardly through the splash-lubricated compartment 4 and isseparated therefrom by a sleeve 92 surrounding. the

4 same, The sleeve 92, at its upper end, extends throug the partition 5 and has an oil-tight connection therewith, and at its lower end is press fitted into a bore in a plug 93 having a flange 94. The plug 93 is seated in an aperture in the bottom plate 6' and is secured therein by screws 95. The plug 93 is provided with an aperture 96 through which passes the lowerv end of the pull rod 88. The pull rod 88 is adapted to be connected to an operator-actuated foot treadle (not shown) by a chain 97. Depression of the free end of the lever 79 to separate the feed cups 50 and 51 is limited by an adjustable stop bolt 98 screwed through the lever 79 inposition to contact the partition 5 and locked by a nut 99.

One of the advantages of this construction is that there is obtained a planar base without depending structure whereby the machine may be placed upon a supporting surface without the provision of special cut-outs. This is significant in that the machine may be more conveniently handled, stored. and shipped. At the same time, another advantage of this construction is that the machine is The sleeve 82 is fitted into the plug 93 and thereafter inserted in the machine. The rod 88 is inserted from the top after the other parts, including the spring 80, the gate 75, and lever 79 have been assembled.

Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to a preferred embodiment of my invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to the included within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine of the hosiery seamer type having a frame including a hollow vertically disposed standard and a bracket arm surmounting said standard, stitching mechanism and feeding mechanism for advancing work past said stitching mechanism, said feeding mechanism comprising a pair of opposed feed cups, means for supporting a first one of said feed cups for movement into and out of operative relation relatively to the second one of said feed cups comprising a feed cup supporting shaft pivotally mounted in said bracket arm, a lever arm operatively connected at one end to said feed cup supporting shaft for imparting pivotal movement to said feed cup supporting shaft upon pivotal movement of said lever arm, an operator-actuated pull rod operatively. connected to the other end of said lever arm for pivoting said lever arm and thereby pivoting said feed cup supporting shaft in a direction to move said first one of said feed cups out of operative relation relatively to said second one of said feed cups when said operator-actuated pull rod is tensioned, and adjustable means for biasing said lever arm in the opposite direction comprising an adjusting rod having an out-of-round cross section, said frame having an internally threaded bore arranged on an axis parallel to the axis of said operator-actuated rod with the extension of the axis intersecting an intermediate point on said lever arm and in which bore said adjusting rod is disposed, said lever arm having an aperture alined with the axis of said bore and through which said adjusting rod extends, an externally threaded element threaded into said bore and having an aperture conforming to the cross section of said adjusting rod and through which said adjusting rod extends whereby adjustment of said threaded element longitudinally of said bore is effected when said adjusting rod is turned, and a spring surrounding said rod and operatively engaged at one end with said lever armv and at the other end with said threaded element.

2. In a sewing machine of the hosiery seamer type, a frame including a vertically disposed hollow standard and a bracket arm surmounting said standard, a remova'ble plate for closing the bottom of said standard and a partition for closing the top of said standard for forming a closed splash-lubricated compartment within said standard, stitching mechanism and feeding mechanism for advancing Work past said stitching mechanism, said feeding mechanism including a pair of opposed feed cups,

means for supporting a first one of said feed cups for" movement into and out of operative relation relatively to the second one of said feed cups comprising a feed cup supporting shaft pivotally mounted in said bracket arm, a lever arm operatively connected at one end to said feed cup supporting shaft for imparting pivotal movement to said feed cup supporting shaft upon pivotal movement of said lever arm, an operator-actuated pull rod extending through said standard and operatively connected to the other end of said lever arm for pivoting said lever arm and thereby pivoting said feed cup supporting shaft in a direction to move said first one of said feed cups out of operative relation relatively to said second one of said feed cups when said pull rod is tensioned, a sleeve surrounding said pull rod and having the ends thereof extending through said partition and plate for separating said pull rod from said splash-lubricated compartment, and adjustable means for biasing said lever arm in the opposite direction comprising a boss extending into said splash-lubricated compartment and having an internally threaded bore alined axially with. an intermediate point of said lever, an adjusting rod disposed in said bore and having an out-of-round cross section, an externally threaded element threaded into said bore and having an aperture conforming to the cross section of said adjusting rod and through which said adjusting rod extends whereby adjustment of said threaded element longitudinally of said bore is efifected when said adjusting rod is turned, and a spring positioned in said bore and surrounding said rod and operatively engaged at one end with said lever and at the other end with said threaded element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 263,399 Gardner Aug. 29, 1882 998,770 Heggie July 25, 1911 1,745,152 Corrall et al. Jan. 28, 1930 2,448,774 Cook Sept. 7, 1948 2,502,387 Hacklander Mar. 28, 1950 2,788,758 Attwood et al. Apr. 16, 1957 

